What Shouldn’t You Use to Clean Granite?

What Not to Use for Cleaning Granite?

Today, you will find that many homes feature amazing granite countertops in their kitchens and bathrooms. Because granite is durable when it comes to heat, it might surprise you to learn it can be damaged due to a simple cleaning. Using a professional granite cleaner is the easiest and safest way to clean granite, and be sure to avoid the following cleaning methods on granite surfaces and other natural stone.

General Household Cleaners

Common household cleaners and cleaning agents such as bleach, degreasers, ammonia, and bathroom cleaners contain acidic and abrasive materials that are harmful to granite countertops. Various chemicals and acidic materials create these harsh cleaning agents. They dull the professional finish, leading to costly repair and replacement.

Glass Cleaners

Window cleaners and similar products can permanently harm granite countertops. When using these products, dulling will immediately occur. These cleaners can remove the seal on a granite surface, leading to stains and etches, which are costly to repair. If these cleaners are used prior to the granite countertops being sealed, the impregnator or sealer can lose its ability to block stains.

Dish Soap

Dish and hand soaps are not formulated to clean natural stone. They will create a soapy film on granite surfaces due to the amount of water needed to fully remove it. For instance, when washing your hands, you place both of them under running water for an extended time to ensure the cleaning agent has been fully removed. However, when cleaning granite countertops, you will typically use a damp towel or sponge to wipe away any residue from this product. Though many people use this method, it doesn’t actually clean the stone. Check out our professional Granite Gold Daily Cleaner® for a product that’s specially formulated to clean granite.

Natural Acidic Cleaners

Natural cleaners that consist of vinegar, lemon, orange, and other natural acidic items can result in etching on granite countertops. Over time, these cleaning agents will slowly seep into the natural cracks within the stone. This will result in discoloration as well as dulling of the professional finish.

Water

This item can temporarily affect the appearance of granite countertops when used without another cleaning agent. You will notice visible streaks and smudging on the granite surfaces. The great news is that these streaks and smudges are temporary and can be fixed by using an appropriate granite cleaning agent.

Abrasive Sponges

Granite surfaces are known to scratch easily, and using sponges or similar items to wipe granite countertops causes scratching. If you use the green side of the sponge, which is the abrasive side, scratches will immediately appear on granite surfaces after you wipe them down. Additionally, this item will cause the sealant on a granite countertop to break down. Now that you know what not to use on granite, it’s important to find out what you should be using. At Granite Gold®, we offer a wide selection of granite polish, sealers, and cleaners that will keep your countertops looking as good as new. Give us a call today at 1-800-475-STONE to learn about our high-quality products.
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